National League clubs in limbo as board meet to decide fate of season amid coronavirus crisis

It remains to be seen if and how the National League season will be concluded
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Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP26 March 2020

National League board members are due to meet via conference call this morning to discuss a way to conclude the current campaign, after clubs were left confused about whether their seasons are over.

In an email to all 68 National League clubs on Wednesday, chief executive Michael Tattersall revealed the league has asked for the FA’s assistance to “end the season as soon as possible” and said they would work with the governing body “to define all reasonable and practical options for the determination” of the campaign.

Many clubs took it to mean their seasons are now over, but the board is refusing to rule out fulfilling remaining fixtures at a later date, in line with the Premier League and EFL, and are due to discuss their options via video link today.

The league also remain in talks with the FA and the EFL about how to conclude the season — with or without further matches being played.

Two clubs — the champions and play-off winners — are due to be promoted to League Two next season, with Barrow currently four points clear at the top of the table with nine fixtures remaining and targeting an historic return to the Football League for the first time in 48 years.

While some clubs, including Dagenham, believe voiding the campaign is the only fair and practical way forward, the National League considers writing off the season to be a last resort and wants promotions and relegations to take place.

The FA will ultimately make the final decision on how to conclude the season and want the same criteria to apply across the English football pyramid. They have also met officials lower down the non-League pyramid, with some kind of clarification expected on Thursday afternoon.

Barrow manager Ian Evatt has said voiding the season must not be among the considered options. “You cannot null and void it,” he said.

“We’ve been top for five months and no one, no disrespect to anyone, has really come that close to us.”

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